At a recent meeting of the Jogorku Kenesh, deputies discussed important issues concerning Kyrgyz citizens living abroad. In particular, they raised the problem of the mass incarceration of Kyrgyz citizens in foreign prisons, as well as shortcomings in the operation of Russian migration registries, which jeopardizes law-abiding entrepreneurs.
Bakhtiyar Kalpaev, a member of parliament, presented alarming data: currently, about 1,500 citizens of Kyrgyzstan are in prisons abroad, with the majority serving their sentences in Russia. He called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other responsible agencies to intensify efforts for the extradition of convicts so that they can serve their sentences in their homeland, close to their families.
Suyunbek Omurzakov also highlighted a serious problem. He reported that law-abiding Kyrgyz citizens who run businesses without violations have begun to appear in the updated registry of "controlled persons" in Russia.
- I have received appeals from our compatriots who have been working legally in Russia for many years. They report that they have found themselves on this list without any grounds and now must leave the country according to new legislation, - noted Omurzakov.
The deputy suggested that the mechanism for forming the registry is flawed and allows for systemic errors. He emphasized that Kyrgyzstan and Russia are strategic partners, and therefore such issues should be resolved as a priority.
- It is necessary to negotiate with the Russian side and develop a clear mechanism for removing those who work legally in Russia from the registry. It is unacceptable for our citizens, who have built their lives and businesses abroad for years, to suffer due to technical failures or system shortcomings, - concluded the parliamentarian.
